Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup was about much more than simply booking a place in the fourth round.
Andoni Iraola made 10 changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Fulham, but the players coming into the team showed exactly why having a strong squad is so important.
There was energy, aggression and plenty of quality from Liverpool, while several players gave Iraola plenty to think about ahead of the next round of fixtures.
Here are my five biggest talking points from the victory.
1\. Liverpool’s youngsters took their opportunity
This was exactly the sort of night the Carabao Cup should provide for Liverpool’s younger players.
James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha were all given the opportunity to impress, and they certainly didn’t look out of place.
McConnell and Koumas brought tremendous energy to Liverpool’s pressing game, while Ngumoha was involved in the build-up to the opening goal.
The biggest positive was the attitude.
The youngsters were willing to run, close down and compete for every ball, and that intensity gave Tottenham problems throughout the first half.
Liverpool noticeably lost some of that energy when the younger players began to leave the pitch.
For Iraola, that has to be encouraging.
2\. Trey Nyoni is making it very difficult to leave him out
If there was one player who particularly strengthened his case, it was Trey Nyoni.
Liverpool have looked short of something in midfield during the early part of the season, and Nyoni showed that he can provide something different.
His tackle to win possession before Cody Gakpo’s goal was an excellent example of the aggression and awareness he can bring to the position.
He also finished the game with a 95% pass-completion rate, showing that his contribution wasn’t simply about winning the ball.
There is still plenty for Nyoni to learn, and nobody should be putting unrealistic expectations on an 18-year-old.
But based on what we saw against Spurs, I think Iraola now has a very strong reason to give him more opportunities.
He certainly looks ready for them.
3\. Cody Gakpo just keeps delivering
What more can you say about Cody Gakpo?
He scored again against Tottenham and continued what has been an excellent start to the season.
Gakpo has looked much closer to the player Liverpool thought they were signing from PSV, and his confidence appears to be growing with every game.
His contribution went beyond the goal, too.
He played his part in the build-up to Mac Allister’s opener and then produced another trademark finish when cutting inside from the left.
It is remarkable to think there were reports towards the end of the transfer window suggesting Liverpool could potentially have been open to selling him.
I’m certainly glad they didn’t.
Gakpo has arguably been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers so far this season, and Iraola is getting plenty out of him.
4\. Andy Robertson received the reception he deserved
There was always going to be an emotional moment when Andy Robertson returned to Anfield.
And that’s exactly what happened.
When Robertson came on for Tottenham, the Liverpool supporters gave their former left-back a tremendous reception.
His name rang around Anfield, and it was a fitting tribute to everything he achieved during his Liverpool career.
There was never really any doubt about the reception he would receive.
Robertson gave Liverpool supporters some fantastic memories, and seeing him back at Anfield in different colours was inevitably going to be a strange experience.
Whatever shirt he is wearing, he will always have a special connection with Liverpool supporters.
5\. Now Iraola needs to build on this against Bournemouth
The Carabao Cup victory was important, but the attention now turns back to the Premier League.
And Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth suddenly becomes a very interesting test for Iraola.
The Reds have won only one of their opening Premier League games, and although there have been some encouraging performances, they need to start turning those performances into points.
The Tottenham victory gives Iraola another positive to take into the weekend.
He has seen his young players step up, Gakpo continue his excellent form and Nyoni show that he deserves serious consideration for more first-team football.
There is still plenty to improve, but this was a night when Liverpool looked hungry.
And that is exactly what Iraola will want to see more of.
The result gets Liverpool into the next round, but perhaps more importantly, several players have given their manager something to think about.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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